Christine Handy Speaker Biography
Renowned International Model, Best-Selling Author & Breast Cancer Survivor
Christine Handy is a globally recognized keynote speaker, international fashion model, best-selling author, and inspiring breast cancer survivor whose powerful story of resilience, reinvention, and purpose has captivated audiences worldwide. Known for her work as a high-fashion model and her courageous voice in cancer survivorship, Christine blends lived experience with deep insight to deliver unforgettable talks on overcoming adversity, redefining beauty, and rebuilding identity after trauma.
A Career in High Fashion and a Life-Changing Diagnosis
Christine’s modeling career began at just 11 years old and quickly rose to international prominence. She appeared in campaigns and print work for iconic brands including Guess, J. Crew, Pepsi, Target, and other major fashion and lifestyle companies. Immersed in an industry built on appearance and perfection, Christine’s life was dramatically disrupted when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012. What followed was a grueling journey through 28 rounds of chemotherapy, multiple surgeries, a mastectomy, reconstruction complications, and profound personal and professional loss—ultimately shaping her into a powerful advocate for resilience and authenticity.
Best-Selling Author and Award-Winning Storyteller
Christine is the author of the national best-selling novel Walk Beside Me, a deeply moving, fictionalized account inspired by her breast cancer journey that explores faith, self-worth, trauma, healing, and human connection. The book’s impact expanded to film with Hello Beautiful, adapted from her story and awarded the Golden Palm for Best Picture at the 2025 Beverly Hills Film Festival. Christine served as executive producer, further amplifying her message of hope and transformation.
Sought-After Keynote Speaker on Resilience and Survivorship
As a motivational and keynote speaker, Christine Handy has spoken for corporations, conferences, non-profits, healthcare organizations, and cancer advocacy groups nationwide. Her keynote topics include breast cancer survivorship, resilience and mental health, self-esteem and body image, women’s empowerment, leadership through adversity, and finding purpose after loss. Her message resonates deeply with cancer survivors, caregivers, leaders, and anyone navigating profound change.
Advocacy, Leadership, and Media Recognition
Christine serves on the boards of multiple non-profit organizations focused on women’s empowerment, health education, and cancer awareness. Her advocacy and personal story have been featured on television, radio, podcasts, and in national and international publications, making her a trusted voice in conversations around survivorship and self-worth.
A Message of Purpose Beyond Survival
Through modeling with scars as symbols of strength, writing stories that heal, and delivering impactful keynote speeches, Christine Handy exemplifies courage, resilience, and intentional living. Her message is both empowering and enduring: surviving breast cancer is not the end of the story—it is the beginning of a more powerful, purpose-driven life.
Christine Handy Speaking Topics
The Cancer Disruptor
In The Cancer Disruptor, Christine reframes a life-altering cancer diagnosis as a catalyst for growth rather than a life sentence. Drawing on her experience with aggressive treatment and recovery, she shows how hope, courage, and choice determine emotional outcomes. Audiences learn how to shift mindset from despair to empowerment, embrace courage in the face of uncertainty, and use disruption as an opportunity to intentionally shape their future.
My Breast Cancer Journey of Hope
This deeply personal keynote walks through Christine’s breast cancer story, from diagnosis and treatment to walking runways again. She illustrates how moving from victimhood to leadership through vulnerability can inspire others. Listeners take away lessons on perseverance, courage, and the power of vulnerability, as well as concrete tools for shifting mindset, leading with hope, and building new purpose after severe adversity.
Faith as the Anchor
Christine emphasizes the central role faith played in anchoring her through loss, fear, and life’s challenges. She leads audiences to reflect on what anchors them—whether faith, materialism, or other influences—and how true stability comes from prioritizing beliefs that withstand life’s storms. This talk offers strategies to realign life around faith, meaning, and internal peace.
Worth From the Inside Out
This topic explores how societal expectations about external beauty, success, and achievement can trap us in a cycle of comparison and self-doubt. Christine shares her own transformation from being defined by physical appearance and external validation to discovering deep inner worth during her cancer journey. She encourages audiences to shift focus from outward accolades to inner resilience, self-esteem, and authenticity—teaching practical ways to cultivate confidence and thrive beyond superficial measures of success.
